Cushioning mechanism



Dec. 12, 1933. D. s. BARROWS cusnxoume MECHANISM Filed Nov. 14, 1929Patented Dec. 12,1933

CUSHIONIN G MECHANISM Donald S. Barrows,

Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Symington Company, New York, N. Y., acorporation of Maryland Application November 14, 1929 Serial No. 407,254

6 Claims.

This invention relates to railway draft rigging and cushioning mechanismadapted for use with such rigging. l

The principal object of my invention, generally I considered, is theprovision of a preferably double end draft gear or cushioning'mechanismadapted for series application to provide a greater bufling than draftenergy absorbing capacity with the housing thereof slotted for receivingmeans for connection with associated sills.

Another object of my invention is to provide cushioning mechanismcomprising a housing or casing with one or more pockets, each of which vcontains a series of ring springs presenting inclined friction surfacesin engagement with one another, and a closure member or memberstelescoping in the pocket or pockets of the housing for compressing thespring mechanism therein.

A further object of my invention is to provide cushioning mechanismenclosed in a housing with top, bottom and side walls, and a transversewall serving to position associated ring spring cushioning means, theend of said housing being closed by an inwardly opening end closuremember telescoping in the spring receiving pocket of the housing, andmeans connecting said housing and closure member for limiting relativemovement therebetween.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particulararrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparentas the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention, the scope whereof isdefinedby the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a partial side elevational and partial longitudinalsectional view of one embodiment of my cushioning mechanism.

Figure 2 is a partial end elevation and partial 40 transverse section onthe line 22 of Figure 1,

looking in the direction of the arrows. V

. Figure -3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1,looking in the direction of the arrows. I

Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts being designated by likereference characters, there is shown a form of double ended, series,friction draft gear 1 involvinga housing or casing 2 having longitudinalwalls 3, 4 and 5, the walls 3 being preferably'the side or verticalwalls, and the walls 4 and 5 being, respectively, the top and bottomwalls, although as will be understood,

I do not wish to be limited to using the gear in this position.'I'he'walls 3, 4 and 5 are connected and braced by a transverse wall 6preferably extending from the ends of a normally horizontal connectingweb 7. Saidweb 7 and the corresponding portions of the side walls 3 aredesirably provided with a longitudinal slot 8 for receiving a draft key9 or other means for connecting the 0 housing and cushioning mechanismto associated draft sills or cheek plates thereon (not shown). In thepresent embodiment I have shown the cushioning mechanism associated witha horizontal yoke 10, the arms of which are correspond- 5 inglyslottedtoreceive the key 9, the rearmost portion of said yoke preferablyengaging a rear follower 12. A front follower 13 is desirably disposedbetween the butt of the associated coupler 1'4 and the front end of thegear or closure mem- 7 her 15 thereof.

That portion of the housing between the transverse walls 6 is desirablyreinforced by longitudinal flanges 16 upstanding and depending from thetransverse slotted web '7, thereby making it possible to omit thecentral portions of the upper and lower walls 4 and 5 between saidtransverse walls 6 and giving access to the interior of the housing forcore removal and for the application of securing nuts 17 on retainers orbolts 18 30 which serve to connect the front and rear closure members 15and 19 to the housing 2. Said nuts 17 are desirably castellated andprovided with locking cotters 20.

Disposed between the transverse walls 6 of the 35 housing and the endwalls 21 of the closure members 15 and 19 are series of ring springs22,- said springsbeing desirably made of rolled spring steel and saidrings being alternately placed in compression and tension when the gearis com- 99 pressed. In the embodiment illustrated the ring spring iscomposed of individual rings 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,34 and 35, the springs 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33 and 35 being placed incompression when force is applied to the gear and the rings 24, 26, 28,30, 32 and 34 beingunder tension at that time. All of said rings haveengaging inclined friction surfaces 36, so that when the gear iscompressed the compression force is resisted not only by the resiliencyof the springs, but also by the friction developed at the engagingfriction surfaces 36. In order to provide a gear in which the initialresisting force is relatively small, some of the rings, for example thecompression rings 25, 2'7 and 29 and the tension rings 24, 26, 28 and 30are desirably formed of smaller cross sectional area and thereforeweaker than some of the other springs, such as the compression springs31 and 33 and the tension springs 32 and 34. On account of thisconstruction the and telescoping with the respective ends of'the housing2. The retaining bolts 18 extend through apertures 41 in the closuremembers 15 and 19, and 42 in the transverse walls 6 of the housing,those portions of the end walls "21 of the closure members 15 and 19being preferably inset, as indicated at 43, to avoid having the heads 44of the bolts 18 extend beyond the outer surfaces of the closuremembersand interfering with the application of the followers 12 and 13.

The proportions of the closure members 15 and -19 and the ring springassembly 22 are desirably such that the spring assembly is centered bythe side walls of said closure members on the side and by the insetportions 43 for the bolt heads at the top and bottom. The inner ends ofthe spring assemblies may conveniently be centered by bosses 45extending outwardly and over which the rings 35 fit. If desired, similarbosses may be provided on the closure members 15 and 19 for centeringthe ring spring assembly.

The operation of my cushioning mechanism may be as follows, assuming thecoupler stem 14 to be connected to the yoke 10 in any usual or desiredmanner and the yoke slots 46 andthe corresponding slots in the cheekplates and/or draft sills (not shown) to'be extended rearwardly beyondthe normal position of the slot 8, so that underthe action of buflingforces, the housing is allowedto move rearwardly, while under the actionof draft forces, it is retained immovable or substantially sowithrespect to the associated sills. When draft forces are applied tothe coupler the yoke 10 is pulled forwardly moving the rear follower 12toward the housing and telescoping the rear closure member 19 in thehousing, compressing the ring spring assembly 22 and utilizing only onehalf of the total capacity of the double end gear disclosed, permittingthe coupler to travel only one half of the total permissible compressionof the gear on account of said housing 2 being held stationary by thekey 9. c

Under the action of buffing forces,however, the coupler stem or butt 14engages the front follower 13, pushing the closure member 15 into thecorresponding end pocket in the housing and at the same time moving thehousing rearwardly to cause it to telescope over the rear closure member19 because of the rearward elongation of the slots 46, it beingunderstood that the rear portion of the yoke or rear follower isassociated with a backstop or other limiting means (not shown) foreffecting compression of the mechanism. It will therefore be seen that afull compression of the gear at both ends thereof is permitted on buff,thereby providing for not only an increased buffing capacity, but for acoupler travel equal to the sum of the travel permitted by the frictionelements at each end of the gear. Although for convenience and economyin manufacture the gear or cushioning mechanism is preferably madesymmetrical, so that the travel and capacity provided by each endisidentical, yet this is not essential, as'the capacities and rotatedthrough 90 about a longitudinal axis.

closed in a housing as a unitary cushioning device travels of the twoends of the gear may be equal or different, as desired.

Although I have described a preferred manner of using my double endgear, it is to be understood that, if desired, it may be utilized sothat the total capacity is used under both buff and draft and it mayalso be employed so that the present side 'walls are disposed as top andbottom walls, that is, the gear may be used after being From theforegoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,it will be seen that ,I have devised an improved form of series draftgear or cushioning mechanism enand adapted for use to providedifferential shock absorbing capacity under buff and draft, so that thetotal capacity of the gear need not be used under both buff and draft.By providing a housing with a slotted central portion andoutwardlyopening end pockets. receiving telescop- ;ing closure members,I can 'convenientlyprovide for the reception of two sets of ring springswhich may be centered partly by the walls of the closure members andpartly by embossments formed thereon and on the transverse walls of themain housing. By having the closure members connected to the'mainhousing by longitudinal bolts, compressive action is not interfered withas the ends of the bolts and nuts thereon are permitted to freely moveinward the desired amount, while said bolts prevent outward movementbeyond the normal position and thereby retain the members of the gear inassembled relation even when removed from the 116 associated rigging.

AlthoughI have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, I donot wish to be limited thereto as modifications may be made within thespirit and scope of the appended claims without departing from myinvention.

It will also be understood that one or more of the inner rings 25, 2'7and 29 are desirably split, as indicated at47, to soften the resistinforce of the gear at the beginning of the stroke and 120 thatthe ringsare desirably packed during manufacture with wool waste soaked ingraphite grease or other suitable lubricant, thereby minimizing wear onthe friction surfaces and resulting in long life. 4

e V 1125 Having now described my invention, I claim: 1. Cushioningmechanism comprising a housing formed with longitudinal walls, open ateach end to provide pockets and provided, adjacent its central portion,with a transverse reinforcement connecting a pair of opposite walls, theinner ends of said pockets being defined by transverse partitionsextending between the walls and connected to the ends of thereinforcement, the outer surfaces ofsaid partitions being formed withoutstanding bosses, and cushioning meansdisposed in each pocket andcentered by said bosses. 2. A housing for cushioning mechanism, formedwith longitudinal walls, open at each end and provided with a transversereinforcement intermediate vits ends and connecting a pair of oppositewalls, the inner ends of said pockets being defined by transversepartitions extending between the walls of the housing and integral withthe ends of the reinforcement, said partitions having outwardlyextending centering bosses.

3. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing formed with longitudinallyextending, transversely spaced walls, a longitudinally extendingpartition connecting intermediate portions of said walls, longitudinallyspaced, transversely extending walls connecting said transversely spacedwalls and merging with said partition, wall portions connecting thelateral edge portions of said transversely spaced walls, adjacent theends of said housing, beyond said transverse walls and, with saidtransversely extending walls and transversely spaced walls, definingoutwardly opening pockets, end members telescopically closing saidpockets, a pair of retainers extending longitudinally through each endmember and the adjacent transverse wall, the inner ends of saidretainers extending into the spaces between said transverse walls,thereby allowing for inward movement without buckling upon compressionof the mechanism, and cushioning means dis-' posed in each pocketbetween said retainers at the ends of the mechanism. 7

4. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing formed with longitudinallyextending, transversely spaced walls, a longitudinally extendingpartition connecting intermediate portions of said walls, longitudinallyspaced, transversely extending walls connecting said longitudinallyextending walls, merging with said partition, and, with saidtransversely spaced walls, defining outwardly opening pockets, endmembers telescopically closing said pockets, and a pair of retainersextending longitudinally through each end member and the adjacenttransverse wall, the inner ends of said retainers extending into thespaces between said transverse walls, thereby allowing for inwardmovement without buckling upon compression of the mechanism.

5. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing having longitudinal walls,open at each end to form pockets, and provided with a reinforcementintermediate its ends and connecting a pair or opposite walls, the innerends of said pockets being defined byv transverse partitions formedintegral with the walls of said housing and spaced portions of thereinforcement, resilient means in said pockets normally engaging saidpartitions, and closure members at each end of said mechanismtelescoping over said resilient means.

6. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing having longitudinal walls,open at each end to form pockets, and provided with a reinforcementintermediate its ends and connecting a pair of opposite walls, the innerends of said pockets being defined by transverse partitions formedintegral with the walls of said housing and said reinforcement, saidpartitions having outwardly extending generally cylindrical bosses,members telescopically closing the pockets of the housing at each endthereof, a series of resilient rings received in each pocket, said ringsnesting one with another so that when force is applied to the gear, saidrings are alternately placed under compression and tension, theinnermost ring of each series encircling and being centered by thecorresponding boss on a transverse partition, each closure member havinginwardly extending flange portions embracing the adjacent end portion ofa series of resilient rings for centering purposes, and bolts, laterallydisposed beyond said rings, connecting each closure member and theadjacent partition, the bolt heads lying adjacent centering flangeportions of said closure members, said flange portions havingtransversely disposed extensions providing inset seats for said heads.

DONALD S. BARROWS.

